QNotes Jan. 17-30, 2014 by QnotesCarolinas

Jan. 17-30 . 2014

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Jan. 17-30 . 2014

inside

Andrea Gibson comes to Charlotte p 16

qnotes news & features

arts. 5 entertainment. Gay rights leader passes away news. views. 6 News Notes: Regional Briefs 8 News Notes: National/Global 9 Candidate gets hate group nod

a&e / life&style 10 12 14 16 17 18 19

Black LGBT nightlife Openly gay NFL player in N.C. Tell Trinity Andrea Gibson comes to Charlotte Jane’s World Q Events Calendar Our People: Chad Sevearance

opinions & views 4 Editor’s Note 4 Guest Commentary 4 QPoll

Fayetteville welcomes gay former NFL player p 12

Jan. 17-30 . 2014

qnotes

qnotes connect Jan. 17-30, 2014 Vol 28 No 19

arts. entertainment. news. views. goqnotes.com twitter.com/qnotescarolinas facebook.com/qnotescarolinas

contributors this issue

Dr. Charles Beem, Paige Braddock, Matt Comer, Lainey Millen, Trinity

front page

Graphic Design: Lainey Millen Photography/Illustration:

Matt Comer

Mission:

The focus of QNotes is to serve the LGBT and straight ally communities of the Charlotte region, North Carolina and beyond, by featuring arts, entertainment, news and views in print and online that directly enlightens, informs and engages the readers about LGBT life and social justice issues. Pride Publishing & Typesetting, Inc., dba QNotes P.O. Box 221841, Charlotte, NC 28222 ph 704.531.9988 fx 704.531.1361 Publisher: Jim Yarbrough Sales: x201 adsales@goqnotes.com Nat’l Sales: Rivendell Media, ph 212.242.6863 Editor: Matt Comer, x202 editor@goqnotes.com Copy Editor: Maria Dominguez Production: Lainey Millen, x205 production@goqnotes.com Printed on recycled paper. Material in qnotes is copyrighted by Pride Publishing & Typesetting © 2014 and may not be reproduced in any manner without written consent of the editor or publisher. Advertisers assume full responsibility — and therefore, all liability — for securing reprint permission for copyrighted text, photographs and illustrations or trademarks published in their ads. The sexual orientation of advertisers, photographers, writers, cartoonists we publish is neither inferred nor implied. The appearance of names or photographs does not indicate the subject’s sexual orientation. qnotes nor its publisher assumes liability for typographical error or omission, beyond offering to run a correction. Official editorial positions are expressed in staff editorials and editorial notations and are determined by editorial staff. The opinions of contributing writers and guest columnists do not necessarily represent the opinions of qnotes or its staff. qnotes accepts unsolicited editorial, but cannot take responsibility for its return. Editor reserves the right to accept and reject material as well as edit for clarity, brevity.

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Jan. 17-30 . 2014

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editor’s note by Matt Comer :: matt@goqnotes.com

The radical right’s self-marginalization On New Year’s Day, I had the opportunity to appear on Charlotte’s new local Fox affiliate’s inaugural primetime newscast in a debate with Dr. Michael Brown, a Concord-based antiLGBT theologian and activist. The topic was the Boy Scouts of America’s new membership policy prohibiting discrimination against gay youth members. A longer version of the debate was published online. You can watch the video, as well as read a great take-away from local Huffington Post writer Victor Lopez at huff.to/1ielXn4. And, if you’re like Lopez and most sane folks, you’ll immediately notice significant differences in the arguments used for the policy change and against it. While I maintained a calm composure and used facts to back up my support for the change, Brown bogarted the exchange, speaking at length and repeatedly about gay sex and flirting. According to Brown, the policy change — approved by 60 percent of the 1,400 voting members of the Scouts’ National Council — amounted to nothing more than an “injection” of sexuality into Scouting. Brown’s intense focus on gay sex and what body parts go where and by whom isn’t unusual among the radical religious right. Ultimately, their unexplainable fixation on the sexual acts of

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Anti-gay Christians need a crash course in human sexuality, biology and anatomy — and a couple of educational viewings of some good gay porn probably wouldn’t hurt either. The more radical anti-gay religious leaders flap their lips about gay sex, the more victories our journey toward equality will achieve. By now, it’s obvious that Americans couldn’t care less about who their family, friends, neighbors or co-workers love or how they love. The anti-gay fixation on sex is juvenile and immature. And, ultimately, combined with other equally crazy fixations and conspiracy theories (one leader, Tony Perkins, recently labeled the esteemed Southern Poverty Law Center a “terrorist” organization), the radical right will marginalize themselves. For all their fears of “anti-Christian” oppression from “gay radicals,” the simple truth is that the radical right has more to fear from their own extremism. Personally, I hope Brown, Perkins, Grady and others will continue on their middle-schoolesque quest to talk about penises, vaginas and anuses as much as they like. It’ll provide me and my friends plenty of opportunities for laughs and giggles, and push more members of the public firmly into the only truly reasonable camp in this debate — the side that roots for justice, equality, liberty and inclusion for all. : :

gay men and other sexual minorities will be the right’s own undoing. My debate with Brown is a perfect example of how the right is creating their own self-marginalization. While proponents for equality and inclusion focus on facts and truth, anti-gay leaders like Brown are left screaming wildly about sex. All the while, it becomes more easily apparent to most sane members of the public where reason and rational thought truly lies in the debate over LGBT equality. Brown isn’t the only example. Dozens of high-profile anti-LGBT leaders routinely find themselves discussing the finer points of gay sexuality, again wondering which body parts fit where and how. Writer J. Lee Grady of Charisma Magazine recently penned a commentary on — you guessed it — gay sex. The title itself — “The Painful Truth About Gay Pleasure” — was laughable enough. But, Grady piled on, using the recent flap over “Duck Dynasty” and Phil Robertson to illustrate several lessons, among them: “[C]onservative Southerners might need some coaching on how to express their views in the media.” I can suggest With recent advances on marriage in states another lesson:

qpoll

guest commentary by Dr. Charles Beem :: guest contributor

like Utah, do you think the movement for nation-wide marriage equality will speed up? See the options and vote: goqnotes.com/to/qpoll

Watch the dominoes fall: The Utah case and marriage equality in North Carolina It seems increasingly to be a world turned upside down these days in the nationwide quest for marriage equality. This is true even here in the Tar Heel state, where during a primary election in May 2012, a plurality of voters approved a constitutional amendment banning same sex marriages and civil unions in this state (even though they were already prohibited by state law). Some of the reasoning put forward by the amendment’s backers included the fear that the state was not prepared to have to deal with same sex couples who married in another state before moving to North Carolina and bringing their legal baggage with them, including demands for legal rights and recognition. As it turns out, amendment supporters were absolutely right, but their shortsighted and history-defying efforts to stop the flow are akin to sticking fingers in a leaky dike. The Triangle region especially has proven to be a demographic magnet as the economy improves, with increasing numbers of gays and lesbians arriving in search of educational and employment opportunities, including in the military, and expecting equal rights under the law. These new North Carolinians join us natives and longtime residents in comprehending the dizzying events of the last year and a half, in which marriage equality became a reality in a number of states, sixteen to be exact, along with the District of Columbia and various sovereign Indian nations. So what does this have to do with North Carolina? As Justice Antonin Scalia rightly noted in his dissent from the majority opinion striking down Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act last June, the Court’s ruling would have a domino effect that would eventu-

ally topple all state statutory and constitutional bans on gay marriage. This process began in this state last October, when Buncombe County Register of Deeds Drew Reisinger issued marriage licenses to ten same-sex couples in the gay oasis of Asheville, without certifying them, because he believed he was denying upstanding citizens due process of law. These actions complemented those of the ACLU, which is suing the state over the constitutionality of the anti-marriage-equality amendment. These actions failed to garner much, if any, national coverage, but they represent key steps in a strategy that in all likelihood will result in a domino effect of rulings that will render marriage inequality a thing of the past — much in the way that the 1967 Loving vs. Virginia case did away with laws prohibiting interracial marriage. The events in Utah set up another one of Scalia’s dominoes. In ruling on the lawsuit filed by three gay couples challenging Utah’s constitutional amendment defining marriage as solely between a man and a woman, U.S. District Court Judge Robert Shelby cited Scalia’s dissent with unmistakable irony in his ruling that struck down the amendment for violating gays’ and lesbians’ constitutional rights. Though Justice Sotomayor referred the state’s request for a stay on Shelby’s ruling to the entire Supreme Court, which subsequently granted it, this should not be taken as a significant departure from the cautious rulings of this past June, when a five person majority effectively allowed California’s infamous Proposition 8 to be invalidated, but declined to issue a broader ruling that would have invalidated

all state bans on gay marriage. Instead, the justices will likely let the federal courts do the work, as dominoes of marriage inequality are put into place and toppled, creating a critical mass of legal opinion on the question of state vs. federal rights on the question of marriage. So how will all of this go down? While plenty of wild cards remain, it should be noted that no federal court has yet upheld a state law or amendment prohibiting gay marriage. Instead, the body of legal precedent remains the rulings in Massachusetts in 2004, Iowa in 2009, New Jersey and New Mexico in 2013, and perhaps Utah in 2014 when the 10th Circuit Court of Appeal considers the constitutionality of Judge Shelby’s ruling, as well as Ohio and Pennsylvania. Ultimately, when enough states have been sued, and federal district and appellate courts have made their rulings, the Supreme Court may avoid ever having to take on another gay marriage case by simply allowing the growing mass of lower court rulings to stand, much as they did in their ruling on California’s Prop 8. So what about North Carolina? Given the current political climate in Raleigh it remains fruitless to hope for any meaningful progressive legislative changes anytime soon, so all we can do is watch the dominoes of marriage inequality fall in other states and hope that our own day in court arrives sooner rather than later. : : — Dr. Charles Beem is an Associate Professor of History at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. This commentary was originally published on Jan. 8 by NC Policy Watch (ncpolicywatch.com). Reprinted with permission.

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IN MEMORIAM

Charleston gay rights leader Tom Chorlton passes away Leader’s passion was LGBT rights, politics, American history by Matt Comer :: matt@goqnotes.com CHARLESTON — Thomas Patrick Chorlton, an LGBT rights leader, author and professor at the College of Charleston, died on Jan. 5 at the age of 67, as originally reported by the Washington Blade. Chorlton died from complications associated with leukemia. Chorlton began his tenure as an assistant professor of political science at the College of Charleston in 2003. Previously, he was a resident of Washington, D.C., for 20 years from the mid-1970s through the early-1990s. There, Chorlton helped found the National Association of Gay and Lesbian Democratic clubs in 1982, serving as the group’s first executive director from 1982-1987. He also served as president of the Washington, D.C., Gertrude Stein Democratic Club in 1981 and 1982. He was also the first openly gay candidate for a seat on the Washington, D.C., City Council in 1988, running as a candidate for the D.C. Statehood Party. Chorlton saw success as an academic and an author, taking decades of research into his passion on early American history and turning it into a 2011 book, “The First American Republic: 1774-1789.” In an interview about the book with qnotes, Chorlton stressed the importance of history, patriotic skepticism and active citizenship. “One of the things I denounce constantly in my political science classes is this idiocy flag waving,” Chorlton said. “After 9/11 everybody put a damned flag on their car. What stupidity; what good does that do anybody? I say go out and vote and

first Democratic National participate; run for office Convention in Chicago in or support someone run1968. In 2008, he penned a ning for office; pass out short first-person report for petitions or sign petitions. qnotes on openly lesbian Roll up your sleeves and South Carolina congressional get involved; just sticking candidate Linda Ketner’s ata flag on your car is about tendance at the Democratic the laziest thing I can convention in Denver. think of.” Deacon Maccubbin, He added, the former owner of the “Democracy demands Washington, D.C., LGBT participation. If you don’t bookstore Lambda Rising, participate then you’ve and Maccubbin’s husband, opted out and you’ve just Jim Bennett, are serving left it to some other idiot as executors of Chorlton’s to decide what’s going to estate. Plans for a memohappen. So often we look rial service will be anat what our rights are Charleston gay rights leader and professor Tom Chorlton died Jan. 5 at the nounced. According to the — freedom of speech or age of 67.  couple, a portion of Chorlton’s religion — but there are Photo copyright Washington Blade; used with permission. ashes will be interred at responsibilities that go Charleston’s St. Michael’s Episcopal Church, as well as a family with those rights — responsibilities to stand up and be counted.” plot in Belleville, Ill. After leaving Washington, D.C., Chorlton taught history and You can read a more in-depth obituary from Washington government at Columbia College’s Lake Campus in Missouri. Blade writer Lou Chibbaro, Jr., online at washingtonblade. Throughout his academic career, Chorlton remain incom/2014/01/06/tom-chorlton-gay-rights-leader-author-dies-67/. : : volved heavily in Democratic Party politics. He attended his

Jan. 17-30 . 2014

qnotes

news notes:

Triangle

carolinas. nation. world. compiled by Lainey Millen | Matt Comer

Aiken may run for office RALEIGH — Political junkies, celebrity watchers and fans of Clay Aiken across the nation reacted to news from the Washington Blade on Jan. 3 that the North Carolina “American Idol” season two runner-up may be considering a bid for Congress. The Blade, the nation’s oldest LGBT newspaper, broke the story, with mainstream political sites, celebrity blogs and local media following. Two unnamed Democratic sources told the Blade Aiken may be considering a run to challenge Republican Rep. Renee Ellmers for her Second Congressional District seat. The district encompasses some of Raleigh, where the 35-year-old singer was born and lives, and several other portions of southeastern North Carolina. Aiken was also the runner-up on “The Celebrity Apprentice.” And, he has performed on TV and on Broadway in Clay Aiken performing at a 2007 concert. “Monty Python’s Spamalot.” He founded Via Flickr. Licensed CC. the National Inclusion Project that seeks to aid children with disabilities. He has traveled for UNICEF as an ambassador on the international stage. Former President George W. Bush appointed him to the Presidential Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities. A former University of North Carolina-Charlotte graduate, Aiken also spoke out on “Face the Nation” against Amendment One. The Washington Post reported that he “spoke about antibullying on Capitol Hill, and has been open about practicing an inclusive Christianity.” Raleigh news station WRAL reported that Aiken told one of their producers he was not running for office. Aiken and his representatives have not spoken on-record about the rumors. To read the full report from the Blade, visit washingtonblade.com/2014/01/02/clay-aikenactively-considering-run-congress-sources/. — M.C. & L.M.

Charlotte Benefit slated for DRH

CHARLOTTE — “Painting with a Purpose,” a benefit party to support the work of Different Roads Home, will be held on Feb. 9, 3 p.m., at Painting with a Twist, 4727 Sharon Rd. The event will feature a bit of painting, some wine and a lot of fun. Painting with a Twist is a BYOB art studio. Attendees are encouraged to bring their favorite food, as well as friends to join in on the fun. One of the studio’s talented artists will be with participants every step of the way as they eat, drink and paint their way to a finished work of art. The session will be centered around recreating “The Open Road.” Tickets are $35 with 50 percent of the proceeds going to Different Roads Home. info/rsvp: paintingwithatwist.com/events/ viewevent.aspx?eventID=142214. — L.M.

Triad Guilford Green hosts women’s party

GREENSBORO — The Guilford Green Foundation is holding a women’s dance on Feb. 8, 7 p.m., as part of its 7th Annual Fundraising event at the Greensboro Marriott Downtown, 304 N. Green St. Enjoy music, dancing, socializing and learn

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Jan. 17-30 . 2014

more about the foundation’s work on behalf of the LGBT community. From 7-8 p.m., there will be a “Sisters Supporting Sisters” presentation, followed by the dance with a DJ spinning tunes. A contribution is requested at the door. In other news, Golden Girls Bingo will be held on Jan. 24, 6 p.m., at The Elm Street Center, 203 S. Elm St. Read more about this at goqnotes.com/26926. And, the Dawn S. Chaney Award nominations are open until Jan. 22. It is given to an outstanding woman (lesbian or straight ally) for their contributions and work within the Triad LGBT community. Women who have helped foster a better community or helped create positive social change for the LGBT community are the ideal nominees for this award. It is limited to the Piedmont Triad area. A nomination form is available online. Chaney serves as a mentor to other women with an entrepreneurial spirit. She sponsored the first Green Party, helped to establish the foundation endowment fund and co-chaired the committee that raised the first $100,000 for it. Her experience at the first Women’s Party prompted her to say, “Strong women make a difference. Powerful women make change.” Also, save the date for the foundation’s gala, slated for March 22. Details are forthcoming. info: ggfnc.org. — L.M.

Methodists to hold forum

GARNER — The Conference Board of Church and Society of the North Carolina United Methodist Church is hosting the second in a series of Bishop’s Forums on homosexuality for district superintendents with a luncheon on Feb. 12, 11 a.m., at the Methodist Building. The forum enables those among the laity and clergy to engage in dialogue about challenging issues in the community and world. They consist of two speakers who share their presentations, each consisting of 20 minutes. The forum is open to the public. “The purpose of the forum is to have a grace-filled conversation between those who believe that faith compels us to embrace such notions as gay marriage and those who believe that faith compels us to hold on to traditional teaching that marriage is to be between folks of oppposite genders,” Eric Lindblade, Jr., chair of the Conference Board, said in an email. He also added that the United Methodist Church is wrestling with this issue, unlike many denominations which have reached consensus, either on one side or the other. Lindblade added, “In all these forums, we seek neither to deify one position nor demonize an opposite position! And no matter what our position might be on a particular issue, we seek above all to maintain unity in Christ!” Last year the Unity Dialogue within the United Methodist Church Conference convened to address issues as they relate to faith and sexuality. It passed a resolution that stated, “Therefore, be it resolved that we implore the General Conference to change the language used in The Social Principles, and to affirm the place of LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender) members within the church, lest they risk losing not only those members but any and all members with family or friends who are LGBT.” The forum will use this as a jumping off point for its dialogue and discussion. A nominal fee contribution of $5 will enable attendees to enjoy lunch while networking with others. Email Robin Harry at rharry@nccumc. org to secure a spot no later than Feb. 5. info: nccumc.org. rmnetwork.org. — L.M.

Academics lead push for LGBT inclusion at international engineering group

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — Two academics at the University of North Carolina were among the leading voices pushing for LGBT inclusion at the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). The group says it has 425,000 members in over 160 countries, making it the Leandra Vicci world’s largest Photo Credit: professional UNC, University Gazette, organization for engineers. And, it’s new Code of Ethics now includes protections for LGBT people. “Today is a momentous day for equality in the world of nerds, geeks and hackers,” Dana Beyer, executive director of Gender Rights

Maryland, wrote in a Huffington Post commentary last week. “Given that many of us have, to some degree, become technologically proficient during the new industrial revolution, this is of great importance to all of us. Today, the IEEE … is publishing its new Code of Ethics. And that Code, known within the profession as much as a code of honor as one of ethics, is, for the first time, LGBT-inclusive.” The change was under consideration last fall. Proposals included protections on the basis of sexual orientation, but excluded gender identity and expression. Two transgender women sought to change that, including Leandra Vicci, a lecturer and director of the Applied Engineering Laboratory at the University of North Carolina’s Department of Computer Science. Other academics came to their aid, encouraging IEEE to make their new changes fullyinclusive. A letter of support was spearheaded by the University of North Carolina’s Dr. Fred Brooks, “the father of the IBM System/360,” Beyer wrote. Read more about the change at the professional organization in Beyer’s Huffington Post commentary at huff.to/1dvJpaU. — M.C.

Center goes to the theatre

RALEIGH — The LGBT Center of Raleigh is heading out to the stage for its Out at RTL as it partners with Raleigh Little Theatre for a special showing of “The Divine Sister” on Jan. 23 at the Gaddy-Goodwin Teaching Theatre, 301 Pogue St. A pre-show wine tasting will take place at 6:30 p.m. in the Cantey V. Sutton Theatre, with the performance following at 8 p.m. Tickets are $16-$25 and are available online. Use the promotional code “OUTATRLT” to get $5 off. The show’s premise centers around an homage to Hollywood films that feature nuns. info/tickets: raleighlittletheatre.org. lgbtcenterofraleigh.com. — L.M.

Valentine’s dance on horizon

RALEIGH — A Valentine’s Dance will be held at the LGBT Center of Raleigh, 324 S. Harrington St., on Feb. 15 at 7 p.m. This inaugural casual attire event features Rock ’n Roll and music of the 1960s and 1970s. All singles and couples are welcome. Food will be provided and there will be a DJ. Suggested donation is $5. info: lgbtcenterofraleigh.com. — L.M.

ENC to join HKoJ event

RALEIGH — Equality North Carolina will be part of the “Moral March” at the annual Historic Thousands on Jones Street 2014 on Feb. 8. Participants will gather at Shaw University, 118 E. South St., at 9:30 a.m. The march will begin at 10:30 a.m. and head toward Jones Street to the North Carolina General Assembly. LGBT community members are encouraged to bring their rainbow flags and to wear Equality NC state of equality T-shirts. Spread the word about the importance of LGBT visibility by inviting friends and family members to the event. This civil and equal rights march and rally for justice bring focus to a variety of issues in the state. It is considered to be one of the larg-

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news

Astrologer Gunn to do reading

ASHEVILLE — The Association of Lesbian Professionals (ALPS) Gala Dance will be held on Jan. 18, 7:30 p.m., at Club Eleven, 11 Grove St. Diva DJ Linda will spin music. Food will be provided. Admission is free for ALPS members. Guest cost is $10. Join or renew at the dance and get in free. ALPS serves as a social organization for the High Country. It holds a dinner meeting on the first Wednesday of each month. info: alpsofasheville.com. — L.M.

HENDERSONVILLE — Area astrologer Liz Gunn will provide a public reading and discussion on Jan. 25, 10 a.m., at Crystal Visions, 5426 Asheville Hwy. This intuitive astrologer will read from her book entitled “Entering the Mystery with Radical Trust - A Story of Faith.” She will also provide insights on personal discovery and the nature of change. She will challenge attendees’ thinking to re-frame the perception of what is possible. One of the areas of special interest and experience includes working with mature women and lesbians who wish to explore their potential or life events requiring significant change from a practical, but deeply psycho-spiritual perspective. Cost is a love offering. info: crystalvisionsbooks.com. — L.M.

plans are finalized. These camps will explore the changes in the prevailing theories and practices in diversity and inclusion leadership, strategy and execution. And, a Healthcare Diversity Summit will take place on April 23, 7:30 a.m., at the Greenville Convention Center in Greenville. It will focus on intercultural communication with the Hispanic community and the impact of socioeconomic-status on health and healthcare. Registration is available online for each of these events. Contact Brian Richards for cost via email at Brian.Richards@nationaldiversity council.org. Additionally, social mixers will be held in February and May in Charlotte and in March, June, September and December in the Triangle. More information is available online. To learn more about the NDC Carolinas’ chapter meetings, email info@ndccarolinas.org. info/registration: ndccarolinas.org. — L.M.

Fringe fest comes to the High Country

South Carolina

Campus Scene

It’s potluck time

Conference registration open

est gatherings of progressive groups in North Carolina annually. Participants come from across the state and nation. Autos can be parked at the Blount Street Deck, 314 S. Blount St. info: hkonj.com. equalitync.org. — L.M.

Western Women gather for dance

ASHEVILLE — The 11th Asheville Fringe Arts Festival (AFAF) will be held on Jan. 23-26. Promoters say that the festival provides artists with opportunities to explore the edges of their work, collaborate across genres and bring innovative performances to culturally adventurous audiences. The artistic mix has included local and imported actors, dancers, singers, videographers, painters and musicians presenting experimental works in cross-genre improvisation, Butoh dance, puppetry, sketch theatre, modern dance and performance art. Since its inception, AFAF has presented hundreds of performances involving an incredible number of artists of all kinds. Charlotte’s Viscera Dance Theatre featuring Jack Kirven and Annie Vereen are among the approximate 40 performers who will showcase their talents for festival attendees at a variety of locations across town. Individual event tickets and Fringe Freak passes are available online. info/tickets: ashevillefringe.org. — L.M.

COLUMBIA — The Harriett Hancock LGBT Center, 1108 Woodrow St., will hold an LGBT potluck on Feb. 2, 2 p.m. Bring a dish to this free event that meets monthly on the first Sunday. info: lgbtcentersc.org. — L.M.

Regional Council to hold diversity sessions

STATEWIDE — The National Diversity Council Carolinas (NDC Carolinas) will hold a number of events across North Carolina over the next few months. The Generational Diversity Summit will be held on Feb. 19, 8 a.m., at Marbles Kids Museum, 201 East Hargett St., in Raleigh. Participants will receive training and facilitated discussion on generational differences in the workplace. The Women in Leadership Symposium will be held on March 4, 8 a.m., at the Omni Hotel, 132 E. Trade St., in Charlotte. This event focuses around the politics of power as it relates to communication, empowerment and influence. A Diversity Boot Camp is slated for March 14 in Charlotte. More information on location will be made available online as

CHARLOTTE — The 2014 Out & Greek Conference, hosted by Campus Pride in partnership with the Association of Fraternal Leadership & Values, will be held April 10-13, at the Sheraton San Diego Hotel & Marina, 1380 Harbor Island Dr., in San Diego, Calif. It is held in conjunction with the National Cultural Greek Leadership Conference and the West Fraternal Conference of the Association of Fraternal Leadership & Values. Welcoming over 800 participants, it is open to members and non-members from undergraduate fraternity and sorority leaders from chapters and councils across the U.S. who gather to network, share ideas and learn strategies to create safer, more LGBT inclusive fraternity and sorority communities. Featured keynote speakers for the event include Shane Windmeyer, executive director for Campus Pride, and Kara Laricks, and out lesbian and winner of season one of NBC’s “Fashion Star.” Early bird registration is due by March 21. Regular registration end on April 2. info/registration: campuspride.org. — L.M. Have news or other information? Send your press releases and updates for inclusion in our News Notes: editor@goqnotes.com.

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qnotes

National/Global News Briefs Gay rights take focus in Virginia

According to a Marist poll, 55 percent of Virginians support same-sex marriage. Fortyseven percent oppose it. A federal court challenge against Virginia’s anti-LGBT amendment is still pending. Ted Olson and David Boies, two attorneys who led the successful challenge to California’s Proposition 8, joined the Virginia case in September. Lawmakers have also introduced a bill that would ban workplace discrimination. The bill’s language includes only the terms “sexual orientation,” though it will be defined to include gender identity or expression. It, too, is unlikely to advance.

In related legislation, one state lawmaker is seeking to criminalize oral and anal sex between minors. Republican state Sen. Thomas Garrett’s bill would effectively re-enact the state’s crimes against nature legislation, making oral and anal sex between minors or public oral or anal sexual acts a felony. The Supreme Court overturned Virginia’s crime against nature law in October, relying upon their landmark decision in Lawrence v. Texas (2003). Also, newly-installed Gov. Terry McAuliffe took the historic step of signing his very first executive order as governor. The order bans antiLGBT discrimination against state employees. — Matt Comer

QUICK HITS ——————————————————————————————

The Virginia Capitol. Photo Credit: Skip Plitt/C’ville Photography, via Wikimedia Commons. Licensed CC.

RICHMOND, Va. — The Virginia General Assembly opened its 2014 legislative session on Jan. 8, prompting a flurry of bills on gay marriage and sex crimes. Lawmakers introduced seven separate bills seeking to repeal the state’s anti-gay constitutional marriage amendment.

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One sponsor, Del. Joseph Morrissey, told GayRVA.com that marriage for same-sex couple is “on an irreversible course and we’re gonna get it done.” None of the bills are expected to pass in the state’s House or Senate, both of which are controlled by Republicans.

A Russian actor who said gay people should be burned alive is now asking Russian President Vladmir Putin to re-enact a Sovietera law criminalizing sodomy. more: bit.ly/KFbDJc

Lawmakers in Indiana introduced a measure that could put an anti-LGBT marriage amendment on the ballot in that state during the first week of its 2014 legislative session. more: bit.ly/K9j1vB

The U.S. Supreme Court issued a stay in the ongoing legal battle over gay marriage in Utah. Marriages in the state are on hold, and Gov. Gary Herbert has also instructed state agencies not to recognize the more than 1,300 legal same-sex marriages performed before the stay was issued. more: bit.ly/19gFqDp

Nigeria has become the latest African country to pass legilsation discriminating against LGBT people. On Jan. 13, Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan signed the bill into law. The new law prohibits same-sex marriage and also makes nearly every aspect of LGBT life illegal. Anyone suspected of being gay can be imprisoned. Anyone attempting to enter or perform a same-sex marriage or civil union can be sentenced to up to 14 years in prison. The bill also outlaws gay organizations and meetings, as well as Pride parades. Those who violate that provision can face 10 years in prison. more: bit.ly/KWqrmR

In related Utah news, the federal government announced that it would offer legal recognition to all same-sex marriages performed in Utah before the Supreme Court stay. more: bit.ly/1hQBkoy

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Charlotte pastorpolitician receives hate group endorsement Equality NC condemns endorsement and cautions voters by Matt Comer :: matt@goqnotes.com

Mark Harris. Photo Credit: North Carolina Baptist Convention video still.

CHARLOTTE — An organization known for its extreme anti-gay propaganda has endorsed Charlotte pastor-turned-politician Mark Harris in his race to take the Republican nomination for this year’s U.S. Senate rate against incumbent Kay Hagan. LGBT rights advocates with Equality North Carolina condemned the endorsement. Concerned Women for America’s endorsement of Harris was announced via email on Jan. 8 to his supporters. “Mark Harris possesses valuable experience and the leadership needed in Congress,” Penny Nance, CEO of Concerned Women for America’s Concerned Women Political Action Committee, said in a the release. “Dr. Harris is a pro-life, pro-family conservative who will lead on critical issues from the moment he arrives in Washington.” Concerned Women for America has been listed as a hate group by the Montgomery, Ala.-based Southern Poverty Law Center, sitting alongside more than a dozen other right-wing organizations for their history of

radical lies and propaganda against LGBT people and equality. In the past, Concerned Women’s founder, Beverly LaHaye, has equated homosexuality with pedophilia. Other former spokesmen, including Robert Knight, Peter LaBarbera and Matt Barber, have taken propaganda against LGBT people to new levels. Knight has repeatedly cited debunked and discredited research claiming that homosexuality is harmful and poses “enormous physical and mental health risks.” Knight also once said “gay marriage entices children to experiment with homosexuality.” Concerned Women’s radical history didn’t seem to be a concern to Harris, who recently served as president of the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina and pastors Charlotte’s First Baptist Church. He took the endorsement with pride. “I have long followed Beverly LeHaye and the outstanding leadership she has dem-

see Harris on 15

January 28 — Networking Social at Petra’s Piano Bar Doors open at 6 p.m. Hors d'oeuvres and door prizes. Meet the newly elected officers and board. Event sponsored by CBG Business Member, The Nickel Bar Coming up in February Starting February 25, CBG will offer opportunities to business owners, college students and professionals to attend relevant workshops in the areas of business, tax preparation, college admission and marketing each quarter. Information:

704.565.5075 | businessguild@yahoo.com The Charlotte Business Guild P.O. Box 33371 | Charlotte, NC 28233

www.charlottebusinessguild.org Jan. 17-30 . 2014

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IN THE SPOTLIGHT

Nightlife promoters keep it fun for local African-American LGBT community Promoters say diversity in nightlife and entertainment is important for a united community by Matt Comer :: matt@goqnotes.com

The Charlotte metro area is inundated with LGBT nightlife offerings. With 14 different bars and clubs, nearly any person can find a fun, relaxing place to let their hair down, grab a drink and chat it up with friends. But, among those more than dozen clubs and bars, only one is owned and operated by a local black businessman. Milton Howard owns The Nickel Bar on Rozelles Ferry Rd. He and other black nightlife promoters say keeping diverse opportunities open for entertainment and fun is important, and they’re working each and every day to make it happen. As qnotes ramps up its annual Black History Month coverage — with this feature story this issue and other pieces to follow in the next couple issues — we wanted to give the community a chance to know more about Howard and local promoters. Check out the profiles below.

Starr Gordon Sophisticated Lyfe Entertainment Gordon’s Sophisticated Lyfe Entertainment is now going into its fourth year. She started the entertainment group after moving to Charlotte in 2008 as a way to bring the nightlife and entertainment she had become accustomed to in New York City to Charlotte. “I wanted something more professional and upscale,” says Gordon, who bills Sophisticated Lyfe and herself as “the premier urban upscale

LGBT inclusive event planner.” Inclusion is important to Gordon. Her events attract folks of all races and all genders, though she mostly targets women. “I wanted something that was welcoming to all,” she says. “Something professional I could feel comfortable if I went along and could hang out and engage in conversation.” The key to Gordon’s outreach is ensuring her brand is clear and understood. “We are not catering to an 18-plus clientele,” she says. “We are very specific. If you are above 21 and you like coming into an atmosphere that is a little bit more upscale, that’s going to have music that’s not just current but some old music as well, then this is an event you want to attend.” Sophisticated Lyfe attracts folks from all over the region, Gordon says. People come to celebrate milestone life events or birthdays. Some plan an entire weekend adventure around the events. “The key with us is that we pay attention to detail,” she says. “If you are a VIP, you really feel like it.”

Blaze SugaWalls Entertainment Started in 2004, SugaWalls Entertainment is operated by Blaze, who grew up in Hickory and started her company in Greensboro, where she graduated from North Carolina A&T University.

SugaWalls started out simply enough, when Blaze began doing a few events for another entertainment venue in Greensboro. Those events later grew to become SugaWalls, a nightlife promotion company targeting women. Blaze is now based in Charlotte, where SugaWalls is undergoing a bit of a transition from weekly events to events once per month. Offering events for the black LGBT community is important, Blaze says. In Charlotte, there aren’t always opportunities for black LGBT folks to find inclusive and comfortable environments. In the Triad and Triangle, Blaze says, there were more opportunities. Blaze attributes that to the larger historically black colleges and universities there. Having those spaces is important for young people, Blaze says. “If you’re a single black female or male who is in their 20s or 30s and you’re trying to establish yourself in a city, as well as meet someone, it’s very had to do that when you can’t really identify with who is in your

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Milton Howard The Nickel Bar Milton Howard, the owner of The Nickel Bar, started his bar in February 2009. Four years later, he’s still going strong, welcoming in a diverse clientele of men, women, black, white, Latino and more in what he likes to call a friendly neighborhood bar. The diversity of folks who stop in The Nickel Bar for drinks, fun and conversation mirror the growth of the bar’s surrounding neighborhoods, says Howard. “You have the growth in the diversity of the Smallwood community and Wesley Heights, especially the growing gay populations in those areas,” he says. “We have a combination of black, white, Latino and Asian that come through the bar. And, I think with the younger generation, you will see a lot more diversity than you’ve ever seen before.” Sitting on Rozelles Ferry Rd., The Nickel Bar is a stone’s throw from dozens of other neighborhoods, too, and is just among a couple other gay nightlife establishments in West Charlotte. “Our doors are open to all people,” he says. “One of the things that I feel good about as a bar owner is when I do have customers, say, who are not black come in and they speak about how comfortable they felt. They don’t feel like they were looked at a certain way or judged. That makes me feel good as a business owner.” It’s that diversity, openness and easy-going atmosphere that every neighborhood bar needs, Howard says, and he’s always most excited about the experience his patrons have. “It’s a great mix,” Howard says. “We try to put all the positive energy into as we can, because customers can have a god experience in a nightlife setting. That’s very high on my priority list — customer satisfaction.”

HollyJ HollyJ Events Presents Originally from South Ozone Park in Queens, N.Y., HollyJ made her way down south to Charlotte 20 years ago, where she attended Wingate University. It was in 2002 that HollyJ opened up her promotion company, HollyJ Events Presents. “There was a need that I saw,” she says. “I wanted something that looked like what I was used to going to in New York.” HollyJ had her own business for quite a while, but it took some “faith” she says to finally step out and do it full time. Once she did, she hasn’t looked back and she says she’s seen changes in the local nightlife and entertainment community. “A lot of the clubs now realize that they have to perform,” she says. “Charlotte is starting to become a little New York City. You have to change with the times. I really see that now things are changing.” HollyJ’s events are billed as “FLO,” or “For Lesbians Only.” She caters to women specifically who want to have a safe and comfortable place to relax, without having to worry about being outed at work or being harassed by men. And, she says, her events are always a fun mix of folks from different walks of life. “It’s an eclectic party,” HollyJ says. With each event, HollyJ says she tries to out do and better herself. “For every event I get nervous. I’ve always had that jitter,” she says. “But, I’m always trying to out do myself each time and see what I can do better or different.” What does she enjoy most? The people. “It’s the excitement of seeing the women dressed and hearing the music and to watch the people dance,” she says. “I just like to see different cultures mix and intertwine and enjoy each other.”

surroundings,” Blaze says. “There definitely needs to be diversity to allow consumers to be comfortable with who they are.” Blaze adds, “People go out so they can meet other people. If you can’t find anyone there you’re attracted to, it will cause a dilemma and, in that case, drive people away to other cities.” Blaze says it’s been a mixture of fun and challenge in planning events. She and other

promoters don’t have clubs or bars of their own. Finding space can present obstacles, but it does allow Blaze to meet a lot of people interested in creating unique entertainment events. When looking at Charlotte, Blaze sees growth and a chance to make a difference. “Charlotte is a melting pot,” Blaze says. “There’s lots of opportunity here.

Jan. 17-30 . 2014

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Openly gay former NFL player to come to N.C.

Davis was named executive director of You Can Play last year. The organization is dedicated to ending discrimination and homophobia in sports. He’s also the co-founder of the “You Belong Initiative, an organization that offers Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer (LGBTQ) and straight allied youth a series of four-day comprehensive sports instruction and leadership development clinics. He’s the former assistant director of academic enrichment and work readiness for the Hetrick Martin Institute, where he taught at-promise LGBTQ youths how to define success for themselves. Wade was also an LGBTQ Surrogate for President Barack Obama during the 2012 election and is currently a visiting professor at Rutgers University where he’s taught courses on leadership and diversity. Davis’ speaking engagement will be held at Shaw Auditorium in the School of Business and Economics and is part of a speaker series titled “The Whole Student: Student Learning and Development Across Multiple Boundaries.” Following Bowie State University and North Carolina Central University, Fayetteville State University became the third historically black college or university to open an LGBT student resource center in October 2013. For more information, call 910-672-1474. : : — from releases

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FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. — Wade Davis, an openly gay former football player for the Tennessee Titans, Washington Redskins and Seattle Seahawks, will visit Fayetteville State University on Feb. 6. Davis, who now works as executive director of the You Can Play Project, will speak about the importance of inclusion in sports and elsewhere. The event is free and open to the public.

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daily news, blog posts and lgbt community event listings Sign up for our weekly e-newsletter: goqnotes.com/subs

Meet the Staff of Rosedale ID Making a Difference in Healthcare!

Comfortable Patient Environments and The Ryan White Program

We are excited to bring you the most up-to-date information and share our experiences with you through our new “Meet the Staff” columns in QNotes in addition to our already popular “Ask Dr.C” column. Featured Team Member: Angelica Costea Angelica Costea lives in Mooresville with her husband Donnie and two children, Alex and DJ. She was born and raised in Romania. She moved to the United States when she was almost twenty years old. She has a passion for working with people and helping them when in need.

Angelica is our newest addition to the staff at Rosedale ID, as she just joined our team earlier last year. She initially worked at our front desk where she got to know our patients and the way our practice works. After she had worked with us a couple months, I asked her, “What do you think is the most important thing that we do at Rosedale?” She told me that the most important thing we do is to make the patient feel comfortable. She expanded by telling me that so many patients come in the front door thinking that, as medical providers, we are going to judge them and they are often scared that they will run into others that might find out their HIV status. They are often anxious. As a team, we let them know this is a safe place, free of judgment and we are here to help. She said that often the same patients who came in anxious leave relaxed and more confident. Soon after Angelica was hired as the front desk receptionist, Angelica was promoted to be the Administrative Assistant for Rosedale ID’s Ryan White Program. She now assists our Director of Client Services, Laurie Youron, and Patient Advocate, Natan Shemesh, in the management of client needs. She expressed interest in Ryan White’s story and how we are able to help clients like him that are living every day with HIV. She said that it is important to not put blame or shame on patients who are positive, but instead let them know that they are going to be okay and there are ways we can help. Angelica was moved after reading Ryan White’s Story. Ryan and his mom courageously fought AIDS-related discrimination and helped educate the Nation about his disease. Ryan White was diagnosed with AIDS at age 13. He and his mother Jeanne White Ginder fought for his right to attend school, gaining international attention as a

voice of reason about HIV/AIDS. At the age of 18, Ryan White died on April 8, 1990, just months before Congress passed the AIDS bill that bears his name — the Ryan White CARE (Comprehensive AIDS Resources Emergency) Act. The legislation has been reauthorized four times since — in 1996, 2000, 2006, and 2009 — and is now called the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program. Today, the Ryan White Program is the single largest federal program designed specifically for people with HIV in the United States and is estimated to reach more than half a million people with HIV each year. It has played an increasingly critical role as the number of people living with HIV has grown over time and the needs of this population have become more complex as people are living longer with the disease. The program provides care and support services to individuals and families affected by the disease, functioning as the “payer of last resort” by filling the gaps for those who have no other source of coverage or face coverage limits. Rosedale ID is proud to receive funding through the Ryan White Program and have such a great team, including Angelica, to help manage those resources. Such funding allows Rosedale ID to provide medical services and labs to patients with HIV/AIDS who live within the transitional grant area and qualify financially. To learn more about the Ryan White Program at Rosedale ID and/or become a new patient at Rosedale ID call us today at 704-948-8582. Don’t forget to visit our website at www.rosedaleid. com, friend us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter for community and clinical updates! You can also email us at info@rosedaleid.com. — Sponsored Content —

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tell trinity by Trinity :: qnotes contributor :: trinity@telltrinity.com

Does â&#x20AC;&#x153;we should take a breakâ&#x20AC;? mean â&#x20AC;&#x153;he met someone else?â&#x20AC;? Dear Trinity, My boyfriend moved to Colorado for a while because of family dilemmas and I stayed here in Kansas. Since he left, I havenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t heard from him much and today he called to say we should take a break. Does this mean he doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t want me or that he met someone else? Help! Left Behind, Wichita, KS

Dear Left Behind, Those breakup calls can leave you dizzy and delusional. Now, splash some cold water on your face, mix yourself a martini and listen up! If someone says, â&#x20AC;&#x153;we should take a breakâ&#x20AC;? then that definitely, without a doubt means: 1) for sure he doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t want to be with you for now, 2) something has changed in his head (or in his bed), 3) he might have met someone else or 4) he may just simply feel like he needs to stay away for a while and doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t want to string you along. Pumpkin, the only way to truly know is to right out ask, â&#x20AC;&#x153;What happened?â&#x20AC;? If you were boyfriends for longer that a month then you absolutely deserve to know who heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sleeping with, I mean why heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ending it! Good luck! Dearest Trinity, Everyone has extramarital affairs. Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s so wrong with it? Plus, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m gay. Arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t the rules different for us? Extra Extra, Billings, MT Dearest Extra Extra, Yes many couples â&#x20AC;&#x153;cheat,â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;playâ&#x20AC;? or have â&#x20AC;&#x153;extramarital affairsâ&#x20AC;? at least in Hollywood and probably in Billings,

Mont. And, as for gay male couples, I will agree that extra sexual activities are not so taboo. Gay male marriage etiquette is different. But, honey, instead of spending time outside the bedroom, try, just try thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s all I ask, to spend more time in the bedroom with your mate. The outside world is very tempting, but sometimes you just have to say â&#x20AC;&#x153;noâ&#x20AC;? because you choose to respect yourself and what you have! (My cartoon sure shows you how to deal with this, fa-shure!) Hey Trinity, I met someone great, but I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t want to date him and it hurts me to hurt him. I was just dumped and have already dumped someone once this year and I cried. How can I dump this guy without hurting him? Dumping Hurts, Santa Fe, NM Hey Dumping Hurts, Wouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t it be nice if you could just say, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m not interestedâ&#x20AC;? and everyone would be happy, but everyone hates to be the dumper and the dumpee, but thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s life. So, try starting with a deep breath and just blurting out, â&#x20AC;&#x153;This isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t working out for meâ&#x20AC;? or â&#x20AC;&#x153;I need to stop seeing youâ&#x20AC;? then the rest will flow with poison, I mean passion. Also, sweetie, remember you are not responsible for everyoneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s feelingsâ&#x20AC;Śmost of the time! Hello Trinity, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m gay and I have two coworkers who â&#x20AC;&#x153;thinkâ&#x20AC;? theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re straight. How do I tell them gently that, â&#x20AC;&#x153;thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not possible.â&#x20AC;? I want to be tactful, but clear. Save Our Straight, Palisades Park, NJ

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Hello SOS, I also know some straight married men myself who have quicker comebacks and a smarter fashion sense than a bar full of gays. Next time youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re all having a martini together try stirring up reality by reading them: Trinityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Facts For What You Instinctively Do Just Because Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re A Gay Man â&#x20AC;&#x2021; 1. You know how to make a fabulous entrance. â&#x20AC;&#x2021; 2. Y ou truly understand the importance of good lighting. â&#x20AC;&#x2021; 3. Your best friends were once your boyfriends. â&#x20AC;&#x2021; 4. Y ou have a medicine cabinet filled with little goodies. â&#x20AC;&#x2021; 5. You know how to give just the right smile that says, â&#x20AC;&#x153;stay awayâ&#x20AC;?! â&#x20AC;&#x2021; 6. Your fantasies include back up dancers. â&#x20AC;&#x2021; 7. You have â&#x20AC;&#x153;girlfriendsâ&#x20AC;? who are neither girls nor friends. â&#x20AC;&#x2021; 8. You can lip-sync to at least one entire Broadway musical. â&#x20AC;&#x2021; 9. Y ou can spot a toupe from one hundred yards. 10. A nd, lastly, you can comfortably have complicated sex. info: With a Masters of Divinity, Reverend Trinity hosted â&#x20AC;&#x153;Spiritually Speaking,â&#x20AC;? a weekly radio drama performed globally, and is now minister of sponsor, WIG: Wild Inspirational Gatherings, wigministries.org. Learn more at telltrinity.com.

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Harris endorsement condemned by Equality NC continued from page 9 onstrated in her work with the Concerned Women for America organization,” Harris said in the release. “It is my privilege to receive this endorsement from Beverly LeHaye and Penny Nance as they have served as a voice to our Nation for the conservative principles that we cherish in this Country. I am especially grateful for the encouragement and support from the North Carolina Chapter of CWA led by Sheri Miller as they’ve been an avid force in standing for truth and change in North Carolina politics.” Equality NC saw the endorsement differently, telling North Carolina voters to look carefully at Harris and the endorsement. “The endorsement of Republican Senate candidate Mark Harris by the virulently antiLGBT Concerned Women for American, as well as his praise for this certified hate group,

should give all fair-minded North Carolinians pause as they head to the polls this year,” Equality NC Executive Director Chris Sgro said in a release on Jan. 10. Sgro continued, “The CWA has consistently attacked North Carolina’s LGBT and allied communities using outright lies and outrageous vitriol, and is representative of the extreme positions Mr. Harris has also taken in his support for the anti-family Amendment One. This unprecedented agenda of hate has no place in our state as we continue to push for equality for all North Carolinians.” Harris was a leading proponent of North Carolina’s anti-LGBT constitutional amendment banning recognition of same-sex marriage and civil unions. Concerned Women for America’s North Carolina chapter has also landed in hot

water for wildly inaccurate and radical propaganda. In 2008, state chapter president Mary Frances Forrester, the now-widow of the late, anti-gay state Sen. James Forrester, penned an op-ed full of inaccuracies and radical claims. In the piece, Forrester wholly mischaracterized a 1987 gay rights satire, using it to claim seriously that gay men wanted to “sodomize your sons.” In the same op-ed, Forrester claimed the “average life span of a homosexual is 39 years,” quoting the same discredited research often used by Knight.

The inaccuracies and mischaracterizations used by Forrester ultimately resulted in a correction, of sorts, from the organization which published her commentary. Harris is running against several candidates to take the 2014 Senate primary nomination. His chief rival is North Carolina Speaker of the House Thom Tillis, who said nearly two months before it was approved that the state’s anti-gay marriage ban would likely be repealed within 20 years. : :

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Poet Andrea Gibson comes to Charlotte Spoken-word artist, poet and activist Andrea Gibson will visit Charlotte for a performance on Jan. 23. Gibson, known widely for her focus on gender, politics and LGBT equality, will be accompanied by singer-songwriter Chris Pureka. Gibson’s work has been featured on BBC, Air America, C-SPAN and others. She has released a fifth album, “Flower Boy,” and her second book, “The Madness Vase.” Promoters say Gibson’s “poems continue to be a rally cry for action and a welcome mat at the door of the heart’s most compassionate room.” Gibson and Pureka will perform at Neighborhood Theatre. Tickets are $13 advance and $16 at the door. Doors open at 7 p.m. Purchase tickets online at carolinatix. org, neighborhoodtheatre.com or by phone 704-372-1000. Photo Credit: Courtesy Andrea Gibson

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